Apparatus for conditioning fiber bearing materials



J. AVERY Jan. 26, 1943.

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING FIBER BEARING MATERIALS Filed Dec. 20, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet l J. AVERY Jan. '26, 1943.

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING FIBER BEARING MATERIALS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 20, 1939 o ouowwno a omwmm U Jan. 26, 1943. J, AVERY 2,309,376

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING FIBER BEARING MATERIALS Filed Dec. 20, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIIII/III i Ill/1 III] Patented Jan. 26, 1943 APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING FIBER BEARING MATERIALS John Avery, Prahran, Victoria, Australia Application December 20, 1939, Serial No. 310,256 In Australia January 14, 1939 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in the conditioning of wood pulp and other fiber hearing materials, and refers especially to an improved apparatus for the reduction of wood, wood pulp, straw or other fiber bearing material to a condition in which it may be readily converted to papers, paper boards and the like.

The machines commonly employed at the present time for the reduction or conditioning of fiber bearing material are edge runners, kollergangs, pan mills, and the like; beaters, such as Hollanders, rod mills, and pebble mills; and refiners, such as Jordans.

Edge runners and like machines usually comprise a horizontal pan with rollers arranged to roll on the pan bottom. The pan may be provided with a flat bottom and cylindrical rollers, or with a conical bottom which slopes slightly downward from its periphery to the centre and with rollers shaped like the frustrumof a cone to conform to the pan bottom. Again, the pan bottom may be coned to incline downwards from it centre to the periphery, and the rollers shaped to correspond.

These machines are usually of massive construction with a comparatively slow speed, resulting in a small capacity or output for the large amount of floor space required by them in the mill.

Machines such as heater and refiners do not allow the pressure to which the material is subjected to be either accurately measured or easily and accurately re-established. Moreover, Hollanders and like machines develop sharp cutting edges due to wear on the operating surfaces of the bars, and these edges tend to cut the fibers in the process of beating and thereby reduce the strength of the resulting paper.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for the reduction or conditioning of fiber bearing material, by means of which the above-mentioned disadvantages are overcome.

When two curved surfaces are moved relatively to one another in order to exert a reducing or conditioning action on fiber bearing material dis posed between them, the material is subjected (a) to a crushing or squeezing action (hereinafter termed a crushing action) due to the pressure exerted on the material by the coacting surfaces in a direction substantially at right angles thereto, or (b) to a rubbing or shearing action (hereinafter termed a rubbing action) due to a relative lateral movement of the coacting surfaces in a direction substantially tangential thereto. It will be appreciated that the material may be subjected simultaneously to a crushing action and a rubbing action.

The degree or intensity of the crushing action may be varied by increasing or decreasing the pressure exerted on the material by the coacting surfaces, and the degree or intensity of the rubbing action may be varied by increasing or decreasing the relative lateral or tangential movement between the said surfaces.

Where onesurface rolls upon or moves towards and away from the other surface with substantially no relative lateral movement of the surfaces, the motion is hereinafter referred to as rolling, and such rolling motion causes a crushing action on material between the surfaces.

I have found that to reduce or condition fiber bearing materials for pulp manufacture in the most efiicientmanner it is necessary to subject the fibers to a crushing action and/or to a rubbing action according to the stage of reduction, or the condition, of the material. By properly controlling the degree or intensity of the rubbing action or crushing action to which the material is subjected, it structure may be broken down and the fibers liberated with a minimum of injury or damage to the individual fibers. Ihave also found that different types of materials require different degrees of crushing and rubbing for optimum results, according to the peculiar structure of the material being treated and to the stage of the treatment that has been reached.

It may be stated, that, in a general way, the degree or intensity of the rubbing action must be decreased as the material becomes converted into pulp, that is, as the fibers are separated more and more from each other. In' this form the cell structure of the fibers is more easily destroyed by a rubbing action, but it can withstand a heavy crushing action which modifies the cell making it suitable for the desired manufacture, at the same time keeping its structure intact.

An object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of improved construction for reducing or conditioning fiber bearing materials between coacting conical surfaces, whereby the degree or intensity of the rubbing or crushing action to,

which said materials are subjected may be varied according to the nature and condition of the materials being treated, thereby enabling the production of pulps of optimum properties for the purposes for which they are required.

Where in the specification and claims of this application I use the term cone or "conical member" (and where the context admits) it will be understood that these terms include cones or conical members having surfaces which are slightly curved longitudinally (such curvaturebeing either concave or convex), in addition to straight line cones.

In the reduction or conditioning of fiber bearing material by the apparatus of this invention, it is necessary for a proportion of water or other liquid to be present, and if sumcient liquid is not present with the material to be treated, it is necessary to add same before or as the material is passed through the apparatus.

Having described the objects and nature of my invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a view in plan of an apparatus constructed in accordance withthis invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. 4

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view in section of the eccentric sleeve shown rotated through one right angle.

Figure 6 is a view in elevation and partly in section of a modification of the invention.

Figure 7 is a view in end elevation of the inner cone shown in Figure 6, looking from the smaller end.

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the inner cone taken on the line 88 of Figure 6, and

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the smaller end of the said inner cone.

Referring to the drawings, wherein the same reference numerals are used to designate like or corresponding parts, and with particular reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings, the reference numerals I0 and II indicate an inner conical member and an outer cone-shaped shell, respectively. The inner cone I0 is secured to a shaft I2 so as to be rotatable within the outer shell II, and the shaft I2 is supported at its ends in spherical bearings I3 and I4. The outer surface of the inner cone I0 and the inner surface of the outer shell II are both machined to the same taper, and the cone and shell arranged in the same sense and are so assembled that the said surfaces have substantially a common point of origin, which point coincides with the centre of the spherical bearing ll when said bearing is in its normal position. The inner cone i0 is of slightly smaller diameter than the outer cone II at any one cross-section, and the surface of said inner cone III is arranged in close proximity to the inner surface of the outer cone Il along a line extending longitudinally of said surfaces.

The outer shell II is secured rigidly to a base plate I5, and is provided with cover plates I6 and I1 at its larger and smaller ends respectively, through which the shaft I2 passes. A pair of flanges I8 are secured to the cover plate It to hold a rubber packing ring I8 which surrounds the shaft I2, thus providing a gland which permits'lateral movement of the shaft. The cover plate I! is formed in two sections to hold a rubber packing ring 28 surrounding the shaft. The shaft where it passes through the packings is covered with bronze sleeves 2|.

A feed chamber 22 is provided at the larger end of the outer shell II, into which the. material to be treated (together with water or other liquid) is introduced. The material passes beof the section of the coupling 3| a relatively tween the inner cone l0 and outer. shell II from .their larger to their smaller ends and is deliveredthrough the outlet 23.

The inner cone I0 is provided with end covers 24, 25 and with a central strengthening web 26.

The hearing I! is mounted within a spherical bearing shell 21, and said bearing carries an inner sleeve 28 which is rotatable therein, a lining 29 being provided in said bearing IS. The spherical bearing shell 21 is supported on'a casing 38 secured to the base plate II. This casing also acts as an oil chamber, as hereinafter described. The bore of the sleeve 28 is eccentric to the outer surface of the sleeve as shown in Figures 4 and 5. Moreover, the axis of the bore of the sleeve 28 in addition to its eccentricity is inclined to the axis of the sleeve to such an extent that if the axis of said bore were extended (as shown in Figure 5) it would intersect the point of origin of the inner conical surface of the outer shell II. Rotation of the sleeve 28 in the bearing I3, therefore, imparts an eccentric motion to the end of the shaft I2 which is rotatably accommodated in the bore of said sleeve, the said shaft being thereby caused to pivot about the centre of the bearing It,

The bearing I3 is made spherical to take care of any misalignment in the construction, and of any flexing of the shaft during operation.

The sleeve 28 is rotated by means of a. flexible coupling 3|, the inner section of which is secured to a flange 32 on the sleeve 28, and the outer section of which is connected by a shaft 33 to a suitable source of power. The section of the flexible coupling attached to the flange 32 also carries a balance weight (not shown) to counterbalance the effect due to the centre of gravity of the inner cone I0 and shaft I2 gyrating about the centre line of the machine. By mounting this balance weight near the periphery light weight may be employed. In calculating the magnitude of this weight, allowance is made for the negative effect of the mass of the shaft I2 and associated mechanism disposed on the side of the pivot point remote from the cone It.

The spherical bearing I4 is mounted within a spherical bearing shell 34 which is carried on a support 35. The support 35 is slidably mounted on a guide 36 secured to the base plate I5. A

set screw 31 passes through the walls of the support 35 and its threaded portion engages a threaded hole in an abutment 38 secured to the base plate I5; so that by turning of this set screw 31 the position of the bearing I4 may be adjusted longitudinally of the shaft I2. held securely to the base plate I5 by means (not shown) which allow of movement of the support 35 on the guide 36.

The bearing I4 is provided with a lining 39 to carry the shaft I2, and said bearing is provided at its outer end with a flange '40 to which is secured a closed cylinder II. A piston 42, which fits neatly within the cylinder 4|, is rotatably mounted on a bushing 43 secured to the end of the shaft l2, and the piston 42 is movable longitudinally in the cylinder 4 I A pulley 44 is secured to the shaft I2 between the outer shell I I and the bearing I4, and may be connected to a suitable source of power in order to impart positive rotation to the shaft I2 in either direction, thereby effecting a rubbing action on material disposed between the inner cone I0 and outer shell II, the intensity or severity of such rubbing action being dependent The support 35 is,

asoas'm upon the speed of rotation of said inner'cone.

The oiling system of the apparatus comprises an oil pump 45 of the gear type which is secured within the casing 80 by a pipe 45 by which it is connected to a cover member 41 secured to the undersurface of the bearing shell 21. The cover member 41 communicates with a channel 48 which in turn communicates with a vertical hole 48 in the bottom of the bearing shell 21. This hole 48 connects with one end of a channel 58 in the spherical bearing IS, the other end of which channel 58 communicates with a circular groove formed in the inner surface of the bearing II.

The sleeve 28 is provided with a plurality of longitudinal holes 52 (see Figures 4 and 5) which communicate by means of lateral holes 58 with the circular groove 5| and with a further circular groove 54 in the bearing l3, thereby enabling passage of oil throughout the bearing. Two small holes 55 extend from the holes 52 to the inner surface of the sleeve 28 and lubricate the sleeve on the shaft l2.

A channel 58 connects the groove 54 with an oil pressure gauge 51 secured to the top of the bearing shell 21, which gauge registers the pressure of oil in the bearing l8. The lower end of the stem 58 of the gauge projects into a recess in the top of the bearing l3, thus preventing r0- tation of the bearing in the shell 21. The oil pump 45 is driven by a vertical shaft (not shown) located within the pipe 46, and said shaft carries a worm 58 which meshes with, and is driven by, a worm wheel 58 secured to the inner end of the sleeve 28. v

Water pipes iii are provided within the oil pump chamber, and means (not shown) is provided for circulating cooling water through the pipes 6| to cool the oil supply.

A channel 62 is provided in the spherical bearing l3 and in the bearing shell 21, which channel connects the circular groove 54 with an exterior pipe 53. The pipe 63 is connected through a relief valve 84 to a pipe 85 which returns to the oil pump chamber, and said pipe 83 also connects with a pipe 86 which passes to a regulating valve 81 on the shell 34 of the bearing 14. The other side of the valve 61 communicates by means of a. channel (not shown) in the bearing H with a circular groove 88 formed in the inner-surface of said bearing. A channel 68 connects the groove 68 with an oil pressure gauge. 18 attached to the top of the bearing shell 34, the lower end of the stem 1| of said gauge 18 being accommodated in a recess in the top of the bearing H. Channels 12 are furnished in the bearing l4 to connect the circular groove 88 with the interior of the oil cylinder 41. A further passage (not shown) is provided in the bearing l4 to connect the groove 88 with a return pipe 13 which returns oil to the oil pump chamber.

A three-way cock 14 is provided in the side wall of the oil cylinder 4|, and channels 15 and 16 are provided in the said wall to connect the cock. 14 to the portions of the interior of the oil cylinder on the inside and outside, respectively, of the piston 42. An exterior pipe 11 is also connected to the cock 14, which pipe delivers at its other end into the top of the bearing shell 34, whence the oil runs to the return pipe 13.

In assembling the machine an alignment sleeve (not shown) is employed, which is similar to the eccentric sleeve 28 but is provided with a central axial bore instead of an eccentric bore to take the shaft l2. The bearings l3 and I4 are secured in position on the base plate l5 and the alignment sleeve is placed in position in thebearing it so that the axis of the shaft I2 is coincident with the center line of the machine. The

shaft l2 and the cone l0 secured thereto are then moved in the direction of the smaller end of the cone by sliding the shaft in the bearings until the inner cone I8 is brought into snug contact with the outer shell II. The outer shell II is then in its correct position and is bolted firmly to the base plate l5 while in this position. The shaft I2 and inner cone [0 are moved back to their original positions, the alignment sleeve is withdrawn and the eccentric sleeve 28 is substituted therefor.

In the operation of the machine shown in Figure 2 the three-way cook 14 is first moved to the position in which it connects the channels 15 and 18, thereby vequalising the pressure on opposite sides of the piston 42; and the said piston will then be moved towards the inner end of the cylinder 4| owing to the effective area of the outer surface of the piston being greater than that of the inner surface due to the presence of the shaft. This will cause the inner cone I0 to be moved away from the outer shell I I.

The material to be conditioned (together with water or other liquid) is introduced into the feed chamber 22 and rotation is imparted to the sleeve 28, thereby effecting an eccentric movement of the shaft l2 and inner cone In about a pivot point located at the center of the bearing l4. The three-way cock 14 is then'moved to the position shown in Figure 2 of the drawings in which it connects the channel 18 to the pipe 11. Oil pressure is thus applied to the inner surface of the piston 42, and the piston is moved in a direction away from ule Bearing l4. This causes the inner cone ID to be moved towards the outer shell II, and provided that no positive rotation is imparted to the shaft H by the pulley 44, and that the centre of the bearing l4 coincides substantially with the point of origin of the conical surfaces of the cone l0 and shell H, the said inner cone ill will be caused to roll on the inner surface of the outer shell H, and the material will be subjected to a crushing action. As the circumference of the inner surface of the outer shell H (at any vertical cross-section) is slightly greater than that of the outer surface of the inner cone I0 (at the same cross-section) the inner cone will rotate slowly in a direction opposite to that of the rotation of the sleeve 28, provided that no positive rotation is imparted to the shaft '2. In practice it is found that a certain amount of slip takes place between the inner cone l0 and the outer shell H owing to the presence of the pulp or other material therebetween.

- The extent of this slip depends upon the pressure applied to the piston 42 and upon the nature and consistency of the material being treated. In the case of wood pulps it is found that the greater the consistency the less will be the slip between the cone III and shell l|,.that long fiber pulp gives less slip than short fiber pulp, and that pulp that has been previously beaten causes more slip than pulp which has not.

The eccentric motion of the inner cone I0. which is greater at its larger end than at its smaller end, will be found to exert a pumping action which causes the material under treatment to be pumped from the feed chamber 22 between the surfaces of the cone HI and shell II to the outlet 23. The taper of the inner cone in is clscontinued at its larger end as shown at-18, to provide a suitable entrance for the material to the space between the'inner cone I and the shell II. The pumping action caused by the eccentric motion of the inner cone III creates a suction effeet at the feed end of the cone, and this eflect is of advantage in preventing leakage at the packing gland I! in spite of the greater amount of movement of the shaft I! at this point than .at the gland 20. The material at the delivery end of the machine is under pressure, but the eccentric movement of the shaft I! at this end is so small that flexing of the rubber packing 20 will take care of this slight movement without any sliding in the two sections of the cover plate ly increases the oil pressure on the piston 42 and the oil pressure in the bearing M, which is desirable owing to the increased load on the bearing H.

The control ofthe oil pressure enables variation of the conditions of the treatment to which the material is subjected, and also enables a particular set of conditions to be re-established at any subsequent time, if required.

The pressure exerted upon the material being treated may be varied at different points of the coacting surfaces of the inner cone l0 and outer shell H by altering the position of the bearing l4 along the shaft I! by means of the set screw 31. When the bearing I4 is so located that its centre coincides with the point of origin of the conical surfaces of the cone and shell, the pressure exerted by these surfaces on the material will be distributed equally along their full length. If the bearing H is moved in a direction towards the cone and shell (considering the construction shown in Figures 1 to 5) the pressure exerted on the material by the surfaces of the cone and shell will be progressively greater from the smaller ends towards the larger ends of said cone and shell. Likewise, if the bearing is moved away from the cone and shell the pressure exerted by the surfaces of the cone and shell will be progressively greater from the larger ends of the cone and shell towards their smaller ends. When the bearing is in the former position, that is, when it is located nearer to the cone and shell than the point of origin of their conical surfaces, the pulp or other material as it passes from the feed and of the machine to the delivery end thereof will be subjected to a progressively milder action, which is the condition normally required for optimum results. The most suitable position for the bearing H in treating a particular material in the required manner will be found by experiment.

Where a relatively strong rubbing action is required, a positive rotation is imparted to the innercone III by means of the 'pulley 44 on the shaft l2. This rotation may be effected in the same direction as that in which the inner cone i0 is already revolving, or it may be effected in the opposite direction. The greater'the speed of this rotation the greater will be the rubbing action caused on the pulp, and by varying this speed and also the pressure between the surfaces of the cone in and shell II (by alteration of the oil pressure on the piston 42) a considerable variation of the nature and intensity of the conditioning treatment may be obtained, which will enable, by experiment, the most satisfactory conditions to be developed for the required conditioning of any particular wood pulp or other fiber bearing material. It will be appreciated that when positive rotation is imparted to the inner cone ID the velocity of the surface of the cone l0 relative to that of the surface of the shell II, and consequently the degree of intensity of the rubbing action, will be greater at their larger ends than at their smaller ends, and the material will therefore be subjected to a progressively milder treatment as it passes from the feed to the delivery end of the machine irrespective of the somewhat similar effect obtained by movement of the bearing H in a direction towards the cone l0 and shell H, which effect has previously been described.

Any wear which takes place on the cone It! or shell ll may be taken up by means of washers 19 disposed between the shaft l2 and the piston 42. Any wear of the cone HI and shell H which takes place evenly along their length may be taken up by removing one or more of the washers 19. If the cone and shell are found to wear more rapidly at their smaller ends than at their larger ends the wear can be corrected by moving the bearing M in a direction towards the cone and shell by an amount necessary to compensate for such wear.

In the modification of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 to 9 a machine is shown in which an eccentric motion is imparted to the shaft l2 at a point beyond the smaller ends of the inner cone l0 and outer shell II, and the said shaft is pivoted at a point beyond the larger ends of the cone and shell. In Figure 6, the inner cone III is shown in the lowermost position to which it is moved by the eccentric, and said inner cone is formed with a more abrupt taper than the outer shell II. The inner cone is also formed with a plurality of longitudinal ribs or corrugations 80 which decrease in height from a maximum at the smaller end of the cone to zero at the larger end. In this form of the invention the fiber bearing material (together with water or otherliquid) is introduced at the smaller ends of the cone and shell by means of the inlet hopper 8|, and is removed from the machine at the larger ends of the cone and shell by means of the outlet 82. The smaller end of the inner cone is tapered as shown at 83 to prevent jamming of the material being admitted through the hopper 8|. I

prefer to employ a machine of this construction in cases where a strong rubbing action, that is to say, a relatively intense conditioning treatment,

other figures by means of a piston 42 attached to the end of the shaft I2 remote from the eccentric 28, said piston being movable in the cylinder ll and operable by the oil pressure supplied to the bearing H. In this construction the oil is supplied to the section of the interior of the,

cylinder 4| on the outer sideof the piston 42 by means of a hole 84 which is drilled in the shaft I 2' and communicates with a longitudinal groove 85 in the shaft, which groove is in communication with the oiling channel 68 in the bearing l4. Oil is therefore admitted to the outer side of the piston 42 at a pressure corresponding to that registered on the pressure gauge 10, which pressure is regulable by means of the valve 61. When the three-way cock I4 is in the position shown in Figure 6, the section of the cylinder on the inner side of the piston 42 is placed in communication with the return pipe 11 and the shaft I2 is therefore moved longitudinally by the oil pressure on the piston 42, thereby causing the inner cone Hi" to be moved towards the outer shell II and a pressure to be exerted on the material between the coacting surfaces of the cone and shell, which pressure is regulable by means of the valve 61.

In the manufacture of pulp suitable for conversion to papers, paper boards and the like,

I prefer to subject the fiber bearing material to a conditioning treatment in which the degree or intensity of the rubbing action is progressively decreased as the structure of the material is broken down and the fibers liberated. This is achieved by reducing the relative lateral movement of the coacting surfaces of the inner and outer conical members (as by decreasingthe speed of rotation of the inner member). It may also be desirable to render the crushing action less severe as the treatment progresses, by decreasing the pressure exerted on the material by the said surfaces (as by moving the inner conical member longitudinally within the outer conical member to reduce the approximation therebetween).

For the treatment of wood and Qther fiber bearing materials in order to reducethem to a pulp suitable for conversion to paper, paper boards and the like, I may employ a. series of machines, each of which is constructed according to this invention, such machines being so'constructed, adjusted and operated as to subject the material (generally speaking) to a progressively milder treatment, and (more particularly) to a succession of conditioning stages, the conditions of each of which are controlled and adjusted so as to meet the specific requirements of the material pass ing through that particular stage. For example, the wood or other fiber bearing material in subdivided form together with water may be first passed through a machine such as that shown in Figures 6 to 9 of the accompanying drawings, which machine is so adjusted and operated as to subject the material to a relatively intense rubbing action which will break down the material and effect substantial liberation of the fibers. The material may then be passed through a machine such as that illustrated in Figures 1 to of the accompanying drawings, such machine being adjusted and operated so as to subject the material primarily to a crushing action, without rubbing. This is achieved by adjusting the bearing l4 so that its centre coincides substantially with the point of origin of the cone I0 and 'shell II, and by applying little or no positive rotation to the pulley 44. Pressure between the coacting surfaces of the cone and shell is adjusted by'the oil pressure applied to the piston 42.

I have found that the degree of rubbing action to which the material is subjected must be very greatly reduced as the pulp approaches the final condition in which it is suitable for paper manufacture. When the pulp is in this condition it is essential thatany injury or damage to the cell structure of the individual fibers should be reduced to a minimum and I have found that although rubbing of. the pulp between relatively moving surfaces is apt to cause such damage, it is possible to subject the fibers to a comparatively heavy crushing action without adversely affecting their structure, and that such action modifies the cell condition and improves the pulp for paper manufacture.

It will be understood that the sleeve 28 may be driven at different speeds. Generally speaking, in any one machine, the less the degree of eccentricity of the sleeve, the greater the speed with which it can be rotated, and vice versa.

I claim 1. Apparatus for conditioning wood pulp and other fiber bearing materials, which comprises an outer conical shell, an inner conical member rotatably disposed within the outer conical shell and arranged in the same sense, the diameter of the inner conical member being only slightly less than that of the outer conical shell at any one cross-section and the surface of the inner conical member being in close proximity to the inner surface of the outer conical shell along a line extending longitudinally of said surfaces, a shaft to which the inner conical member is secured, the axes of the shaft and inner conical member being coincident, 9, bearing supporting one end of the shaft; a sleeve rotatably mounted in said bearing, means for rotating said sleeve, an eccentric bore in the sleeve which carries the end of the shaft and imparts an eccentric motion to said shaft and to the inner conical member mounted thereon, a second bearing in which the other end of the shaft is both pivotally and rotatably mounted, the said end of the shaft being extended beyond said second bearing, a piston connected to the extended end of the shaft, a cylinder in which said piston is movable, means for supplying fluid under pressure to one or both sides of the piston to 'eiIect and control longitudinal movement of the shaft in its bearings independently of any movement of said bearings in order to vary the intensity of the conditioning treatment, means for imparting positive rotation to the shaft and inner conical member, and means for causing the fiber bearing material to pass between the inner conical member and the outer conical shell from the ends thereof at which the eccentric motion is greatest to the ends at which it is least.

2. Apparatus for conditioning wood pulp and other fiber bearing materials, which comprises an outer conical shell, and inner conical member rotatably disposed within the outer conical shell and arranged in the same sense, the diam-. eter of the inner conical member being only slightly less than that of the outer conical. shell at any one cross-section and the surface of the inner conical member being in close proximity to the. inner surface of the outer conical shell along a line extending longitudinally of said surfaces, a, shaft to which the inner conical member is secured, the axes of the shaft and inner conical member being coincident, a bearing supporting one end of the shaft, a sleeve rotatably mounted in said bearing, means for rotating said sleeve, an eccentric bore in the sleeve which carries the end of the shaft and imparts an eccentric motion to said shaft and to the inner conical member mounted thereon, a second bearing in which the other end of the shaft is both pivotally and rotatably mounted, the said. end of the shaft being extended beyond said second bearing, a,piston,connected to the extended end of the shaft, a cylinder in which said piston is movable, means for supplying -fiuid under pressure to one or both sides of the piston to effect and control longitudinal movement of the shaft in its bearings independently of any movement of said bearings in order to vary the intensity of the conditioning treatment, means for adjusting the second bearing longitudinally of the axis of the outer conical shell to enable variation of the distribution of the pressure exerted on the material, and means for causing the fiber bearing material to pass between the inner conicalmember and the outer conical shell from the ends thereof at which the eccentric motion is greatest to the ends at which it is least.

3. Apparatus for conditioning wood pulp and other fiber bearing materials, which comprises an outer conical shell, an inner conical member rotatably disposed within the outer conical shell and arranged in the same sense, the diameter of the inner conical member being only slightly less than that of the outer conical shell at any one cross-section and the surface of the inner conical member being in close proximity to the inner surface of the outer conical shell along a line extendin'glongitudinally of said surfaces, a shaft to which the inner conical member is secured, the axes of the shaft and inner conical member being coincident, cover plates on the ends of the outer conical shell to confine the material within said shell, a bearing supporting one end of the shaft, a sleeve rotatably mounted in said bearing, means for rotating said sleeve, an eccentric bore in the sleeve which carries the end of the shaft and imparts an eccentric motion to said shaft and to the inner conical member mounted thereon, a second bearing in which the other end of the shaft is both pivotally and rotatably mounted, the said end of the shaft being extended beyond said second bearing, a piston connected to the extended end of the shaft, a cylinder in which said piston is movable, means for supplying oil under pressure to one or both sides of the piston to effect and control longitudinal movement of the shaft in its bearings independently of any movement of said bearings in order to exert pressure on the material being conditioned, means for registering the oil pressure whereby the pressure on the material may be readily measured or reestablished. means for imparting positive rotation to the shaft and inner conical member, and means for causingv the fiber bearing material to pass between the inner conical member and the outer conical shell from the ends thereof at which the eccentric motion is greatest to the ends at which it is least.

4. Apparatus for conditioning wood pu and other fiber bearing materials, which comprises an outer conical shell, an inner conical member rotatably disposed within the outer conical shell and arranged in the same sense, the diameter of the inner conical member being only slightly less than that of the outer conical shell at any one cross-section and the surface of the inner conical member being in close proximity to the inner surface of the outer conical shell along a line extending longitudinally of said surfaces, a shaft to which the inner conical member is secured, the axes of the shaft and inner conical member being coincident, cover plates secured to the ends of the outer conical shell to confine the material within said shell, a bearing supporting one end of the' shaft, a sleeve rotatably mounted in said bearing, a flexible coupling secured to the end of said sleeve, drive means attached to the flexible coupling for rotating said sleeve, an eccentric bore in the sleeve which carries the end of the shaft and imparts *an' eccentric motion to said shaft and to the inner conical member mounted thereon, a spherical bearing in which the other end of the shaft is both pivotally and rotatably mounted, the said end of the shaft being extended beyond said spherical bearing,

a piston connected to the extended end of the shaft, a cylinder secured to the spherical bearing and in which the piston is movable, pipes connectedto the cylinder on opposite sides of the piston and connected to a source of oil under pressure, valves on said pipes whereby oil may be admitted to the cylinder on one or both sides of the piston to effect and control longitudinal movement of the shaft in its bearings independently of any movement of said hearings in order to enable variation of the intensity of the conditioning treatment, means for imparting positive rotation to the shaft and inner conical member, and means for causing the fiber bearing material to pass between the inner conical member and the outer conical shell from the ends thereof at which the eccentric motion is greatest to the ends at which it is least.

JOHN AVERY. 

